Watch TV on your PC

There are many USB TV receivers now available at relatively low cost, including some for Apple Macintosh computers. This hub explains my experience in buying one of the main providers for Apple Macs - the Elgato EyeTV. USB receivers for PC work in exactly the same way.

In January 2007 I decided to investigate a USB TV for my Macintosh laptop (PowerBook G4). Due to the advance in technology since the purchase of my PowerBook in 2005, and to the fact that I had not bought system updates, it was not possible for me to purchase a new EyeTV, due to incompatibility in system configuration. Having scoured eBay for an older model, I eventually discovered one for sale and successfully bid (winning with about the same price as I would have paid for a new device). The unit had not been used and everything was intact; the parts consist of the USB receiver (made by Terratec and labelled Cinergy T2), a short coaxial aerial with a magnetic base, a remote control with batteries and the installation CD-R and manuals. I had already checked digital TV coverage in my area and knew it was satisfactory.

Installation

This was relatively simple, although it also required a web update from the Elgato site. The whole process took about 20 minutes and the unit was then ready for operation. The USB receiver is plugged into the laptop and a suitable place found for the TV aerial (which has a magnetic base). It is also possible to plug a coaxial cable directly into the EyeTV receiver. There is a facility that shows the signal strength and quality of the signal (especially when using the portable aerial).

It is easy to use - once you tune for the first time (which takes about 3 minutes), it then remembers the stations. Teletext is possible via the EyeTV's remote control (although I tend not to use this since I watch TV beside my networked iMac desktop computer). The picture is superb through my LCD screen and EyeTV will automatically receive stereo sound. The software is intelligent and will adapt screen formats and sizes automatically.

Pausing live TV

How often do you watch TV only to be rudely interrupted? With a device such as EyeTV, you need not miss anything since you can press your pause button when the doorbell rings, and the unit automatically records the TV station until you press pause again. When you return from answering the door to yet another double-glazing salesman, press pause to continue viewing, and you can press the forward key when the programme reaches the first set of advertisements. When you catch up with 'live' TV, the unit operates as normal. If the doorbell was your mother calling, and you want to stay listed in her will, then you can set EyeTV into record mode in one press.

Hard drive recording

Arguably, the most useful feature of USB TVs is recording to your hard drive. Finished recordings can be exported into a variety of formats - most people will find Apple's Quicktime the most convenient. DVDs may be made from recorded programmes - useful if you want to watch the programme on a bigger screen. Other common export formats include DV and HDV, as well as Apple's H.264 format. Recordings are heavily on hard drive space in their raw format. Roughly, one hour's recording takes 1 GB. Another distinct advantage is the ability to record programmes in advance. This is done by setting the channel, date, day and time ranges. While it is not as intuitive as the new PVRs, it is quite easy to use. EyeTV is associated with a TV programme guide - if this is activated, it opens your default web browser and finds the TV listings for your area. I have to confess that I don't tend to use it.

Editing recordings

Since HD recordings take space, sometimes it is propitious to edit your recordings, even if only to remove the TV advertisements. This is painless on EyeTV, rather like editing iMovies (or any other digital movie package, I would imagine).

Using EyeTV in various countries

EyeTV comes with an exhaustive list of countries from which you can receive digital signals. Even when we stayed in the foothills of the Appennines in Italy last year. It worked perfectly under the older version 1.8.6 and a TerraTec Cinergy T2 receiver. Because we were staying in a somewhat remote area, it took some time to get the best signal but once locked in, there were no freezeups, broken picture on the vast majority of Italian TV stations. Other countries include Australia, the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland and virtually all of Europe. While Japan, Taiwan and Singapore are mentioned in my version, nowhere else in southeast Asia features although this may be different in the latest versions. If you are away for an extended period and need to record something, then it is quite easy to carry your laptop with your EyeTV.

While portable TV devices such as EyeTV can be used with any computer, it is most advantagsous with laptops. EyeTV is the perfect companion for my Apple PowerBook; in fact, I would say that it is one of the best accessories I bought for any of my Mac products.